EU plans to up minimum parental leave to four months[fr][de] 

Parental leave in the 27-nation EU is paid or unpaid, depending on national law. It comes on top of maternity leave, which is paid leave taken for a minimum of 14 weeks after a mother gives birth, and paternity leave if provided by a given country.

The European Commission's proposal would also allow three of each parent's four months to be transferred to the other - for example, a child's mother could take up to seven months, and the father would take the eighth. 

"The proposal complements the Commission's recent package of measures to improve work-life balance for Europeans," the Commission said in a statement.

The proposal would have to be approved by EU national governments to take effect. Its chances of winning support are high since the Commission proposal stems from an earlier agreement  between European trade unions and employers representatives (EurActiv 19/06/09). Indeed, under EU rules, agreements by social partners are always converted into law.

The Commission hopes the proposal will be approved by late 2009, to go into affect by 2011. 

Parental leave can be taken in the first few years of a child's life. In Austria and Romania, it can be taken only until a child is two years old, while parents in Denmark are allowed to take it until a child is nine years old. 

The national governments of the EU are largely responsible for setting their own employment policy, but the EU can set general rules for minimum labour standards.
France, Germany, the Czech Republic, Lithuania and Slovakia offer the most parental leave, giving up to three years. Belgium, Ireland, Malta and Portugal all offer three months.

Under the Commission proposals, workplace discrimination such as forcing an employee to take decreased responsibilities after returning to the job would be legally prohibited.

Employees returning to work also would have the right to request changes to their work schedules for a limited period. 

(EurActiv with Reuters.)